Who is the culprit?
809 Words
Reina's POV
The darkness outside seemed to mirror the turmoil in my mind. It was difficult to sleep that night. Even after I closed my eyes, the messages kept playing in my head like a warning. I had never imagined a time in my marriage when anyone other than Sebastian would be my problem.
The following morning, the mansion looked the same: calm, organized, and perfect. But I knew better now. Something was wrong, and it was not just out there.
As I walked down the hallway, the maids greeted me as usual, their heads slightly bowed, their voices soft and respectful. Everything looked normal. Too normal to be ignored. I felt a shiver run down my spine as I wondered who could be behind the threatening messages.
If whoever sent those threatening messages claimed to be watching me closely, he or she must have a spy here in this crowded mansion. My eyes lingered on the girls a little longer than necessary, watching, observing, trying to see what I had missed before.
" Mrs Reina, breakfast is ready," the chef announced.
Even eating breakfast at this critical time felt like a risk, I muttered sadly to myself.
"Mrs Reina, is everything okay?" Maria asked softly, concern etched on her face.
I smiled warmly at her, trying to reassure her. "I'm just fine, my dear."
*Sebastian's POV*
Why is she not telling me anything? I asked myself for the umpteenth time that morning. The fact that Reina refused to open up about what was going on kept me worried for a whole day as I kept thinking about what the problem could be.
Jose walked into my study, a serious look on his face. "Boss," he called.
I looked up at him, hoping he had come to say something positive. Just after Valeria had left the other day, I had asked him to look into her discreetly.
"You were right about Valeria's motive. She has formed an alliance with Agnes Dela Cruz," Jose announced, his voice low.
"Wow! I... " I exclaimed with a smack on my lips, my anger rising.
"What else did you get?" I asked, my curiosity piqued. This was getting a lot more interesting.
"Seems they have one target for now... your wife," Jose answered, his words like a cold splash of water on my face.
I stood up from my seat, boiling with so much anger and hate. Valeria should have done better than teaming up with my stepmother against me. I felt like there were spies in this mansion, one or two persons who were watching me and my wife closely.
"Let's go, Jose," I announced, my voice firm. He bowed, and we headed downstairs to the large dining room where Reina was already seated. From the way she stared at the various meals on the table, she didn't have the appetite...
“Gather everyone,” I ordered one of the guards.
Within minutes, the staff stood before me—maids, servants, everyone who worked under this roof.
Reina dropped her spoon as she stared curiously at me, silent but attentive.
Good.
She needed to see this.
“There’s a problem,” I said calmly, my gaze moving across each face. “Someone in this house is feeding information.”
“Until I find out who it is, no one leaves this house without my permission,” I continued.
My eyes stopped on one person.
Maria.
She had been here the longest.
She knew everything.
And lately…
She had been watching more than usual.
“You,” I called.
Maria stepped forward immediately. “Yes, sir?”
“When was the last time you left this house?”
Her brows furrowed slightly. “Yesterday, sir. To get supplies.”
My gaze hardened.
“Alone?”
“No, sir. With one of the younger maids.”
Silence filled the room.
I stepped closer.
Too many things didn’t add up.
And right now…
She was the closest answer I had.
---
Reina’s POV
“No,” I said immediately.
Everyone turned to me.
“That’s not possible,” I continued, stepping forward. “Maria would never—”
“Stay out of this,” Sebastian cut in coldly.
His tone stunned me.
But I didn’t back down.
“You’re wrong,” I insisted. “She’s been nothing but loyal.”
“And you’ve known her for how long?” he asked sharply.
That shut me up.
Because he was right.
But still…
Something didn’t feel right.
Not about Maria.
My eyes moved across the room again.
And that was when I saw her.
One of the maids.
Quiet.
Too quiet.
Her head was lowered like the others…
But her lips…
Curved slightly.
A smile.
My heart skipped.
Something was off.
Very off.
And suddenly, I realized—
Maybe Sebastian was looking at the wrong person.
- Writer
